Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2026) | Viewed by 377

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The complex bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiota and oxidative stress represents a rapidly evolving research frontier with profound implications for human health and disease. The gut microbiota influences oxidative stress through host metabolism modulation, the regulation of antioxidant enzymes, and the maintenance of gut homeostasis. Oxidative stress simultaneously influences microbial composition and function. This intricate interplay affects multiple physiological systems, from immune regulation to neurodegeneration.

Recent advances reveal that a balanced microbiome plays a key role in preserving redox homeostasis, while dysbiosis disrupts this equilibrium, directly influencing immune cell function and inflammatory responses. The therapeutic potential of targeting the microbiota–oxidative stress axis has emerged as particularly promising, with emerging evidence suggesting potential epigenetic mechanisms that could offer novel therapeutic approaches in metabolic and degenerative diseases.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research, comprehensive reviews, and innovative perspectives examining the mechanisms underlying microbiota–oxidative stress interactions, therapeutic interventions targeting this axis, and translational applications in metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, and immune dysfunction. We particularly encourage submissions exploring the following topics:

  • Oxidative Stress Mechanisms: Studies investigating how microbial metabolites modulate cellular redox balance and antioxidant defense systems;
  • Inflammation–Microbiota Crosstalk: Research examining how gut dysbiosis triggers inflammatory cascades and vice versa;
  • Immune System Modulation: Manuscripts exploring microbiota-mediated immune regulation, T-cell differentiation, and autoimmune disease pathogenesis;
  • Integrated Pathways: Studies elucidating the molecular networks connecting oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and immune dysfunction through microbial mediation.

We welcome work that uses novel biomarkers, personalized medicine approaches, and clinical trial data to evaluate combined antioxidant–microbiome–immunomodulatory therapies.

Prof. Dr. Sunmin Park
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • gut microbiota
  • redox
  • human health
  • gut homeostasis

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

33 pages, 1934 KB  
Review
Gut Microbial Composition, Oxidative Stress, and Immunity in Metabolic Disease: Toward Personalized Interventions
by Xuangao Wu, Baide Mu, Guanhao Li, Rui Du and Sunmin Park
Antioxidants 2026, 15(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15020175 - 29 Jan 2026
Abstract
This review examines how distinct gut microbial community configurations—characterized by differential enrichment of Bacteroides, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira—may be associated with variations in host redox homeostasis through microbiota-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and tryptophan [...] Read more.
This review examines how distinct gut microbial community configurations—characterized by differential enrichment of Bacteroides, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira—may be associated with variations in host redox homeostasis through microbiota-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and tryptophan derivatives. These compositional patterns represent reproducible features across populations and correlate with differential disease susceptibility in metabolic disorders. While microbial communities exist along compositional continua rather than discrete clusters, stratification based on dominant patterns offers a pragmatic framework for interpreting large-scale microbiome datasets and guiding precision nutrition interventions. Observational evidence suggests Bacteroides-enriched communities may associate with pro-inflammatory signatures, whereas Prevotella- Ruminococcus, Proteobacteria, Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira-enriched configurations may exhibit anti-inflammatory or antioxidant characteristics in certain populations. However, inter-population variability and species- and strain-level heterogeneity limit generalization. Condition-dependent effects are exemplified by Prevotella copri, which demonstrates pro-inflammatory responses in specific settings despite beneficial profiles in others. When dysbiosis compromises intestinal barrier integrity, microbial translocation may amplify chronic oxidative stress and immune activation. We evaluate therapeutic potential of beneficial genera including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium while examining the dose-dependent, context-specific, and sometimes paradoxical effects of key metabolites. Microbiota-stratified therapeutic strategies—personalizing dietary, probiotic, or prebiotic interventions to baseline community composition—show promise but remain at proof-of-concept stage. Current evidence derives predominantly from cross-sectional and preclinical studies; prospective interventional trials linking community stratification with oxidative stress biomarkers remain scarce. The community–redox relationships presented constitute a hypothesis-generating framework supported by mechanistic plausibility and observational associations, rather than established causal pathways. Future research should prioritize intervention studies assessing whether aligning therapeutic approaches with baseline microbial configurations improves outcomes in oxidative stress-related metabolic disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interplay Between Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress)
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